Fire badly damages Fitchburg mill

Arson investigators are searching for the cause of an early morning fire and explosion at a wood pellet manufacturer at 34 Kimball Place.

Investigators from the city Fire and Police departments are working with the state fire marshal's office

“It was a dust explosion,” said Fire Chief Kevin D. Roy. He said the explosion was large.“The explosion actually woke me up at my house.”

Deputy Chief Thomas A. Dateo Jr. said two employees were working in the building when one of the walls blew out. He said they escaped injuries, “They were fortunate.”

The explosion and fire activated sprinkler systems and fire alarms shortly after 2 this morning. One part of the old grain mill is a single story, and the other part of the building reaches six stories.

“Fire was coming through the roof,” Deputy Chief Dateo said.

The current owner of wood pellet business in the mill is Bay State Pellets. Previously the business was run by Creative Biomass.

Chief Roy said firefighters have responded to at least five fires at the pellet business in the past three years.

Three years ago, a 52-year-old co-owner of Creative Biomass died when he was electrocuted at the shop. Kevin G. Bell had been wiring a dust collection system when something went wrong.

The wood pellets are made from old pallets. The pallets are crushed, and then magnets are used to pull nails from the ground pallets.

Deputy Chief Dateo said he was not sure what caused the fire, but suspected the fire may have started from a dust explosion, and the fire spread because of excessive dust. A smoldering ember could have been sparked by a nail being removed from the pallets.

Firefighters had to take extra precautions as they approached the building since one of the walls had blown out before they arrived. A ladder truck shot water into the building before the building was deemed safe enough for firefighters to enter.

Firefighters extinguished hot spots into the afternoon.

Deputy Chief Dateo estimated several thousands of dollars in structural damage and damaged machinery. He said all four sides of the building sustained structural damages.

For manpower, a shift staff was recalled, and Leominster firefighters assisted Fitchburg firefighters at the scene. Lunenburg firefighters covered the city's fire stations.